375 metro areas

High School Teacher Salary by City (2026)

High school teachers earn the most in San Francisco, CA, an average of $119,470 a year, against $76,320 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Mount Vernon, WA ($105,070 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $76,320BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $119,470San Francisco, CA
Best after cost of living: $105,070Mount Vernon, WA
Metro areas: 375With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for high school teachers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

San Francisco, CA$119,470
San Diego, CA$116,110
San Jose, CA$111,240
Napa, CA$107,690
Mount Vernon, WA$107,640
Los Angeles, CA$106,820
Oxnard, CA$106,480
Bremerton, WA$104,000
Modesto, CA$103,950
Santa Rosa, CA$103,360

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for high school teachers
Item	Value
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$119,470
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$116,110
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$111,240
Napa, CA	$107,690
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$107,640
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$106,820
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$106,480
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$104,000
Modesto, CA	$103,950
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$103,360

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Mount Vernon, WA$107,640 nominal$105,070
San Diego, CA$116,110 nominal$103,770
San Francisco, CA$119,470 nominal$103,340
Merced, CA$100,380 nominal$102,140
El Centro, CA$96,750 nominal$101,660
Fresno, CA$103,120 nominal$100,940
San Jose, CA$111,240 nominal$100,740
Kennewick, WA$100,310 nominal$100,230
Modesto, CA$103,950 nominal$99,850
Bellingham, WA$102,490 nominal$99,180

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for high school teachers
Item	Value
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$105,070
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$103,770
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$103,340
Merced, CA	$102,140
El Centro, CA	$101,660
Fresno, CA	$100,940
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$100,740
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$100,230
Modesto, CA	$99,850
Bellingham, WA	$99,180

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

High School Teacher salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

High School Teacher pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	San Francisco, CA	$119,470	$75,790	$140,990	$103,340
2	San Diego, CA	$116,110	$71,970	$137,840	$103,770
3	San Jose, CA	$111,240	$76,390	$128,410	$100,740
4	Napa, CA	$107,690	$72,880	$124,830	$95,680
5	Mount Vernon, WA	$107,640	$74,760	$123,830	$105,070
6	Los Angeles, CA	$106,820	$76,090	$121,950	$94,060
7	Oxnard, CA	$106,480	$75,790	$121,600	$96,330
8	Bremerton, WA	$104,000	$71,080	$120,210	$98,480
9	Modesto, CA	$103,950	$76,830	$117,310	$99,850
10	Santa Rosa, CA	$103,360	$75,140	$117,260	$95,900
11	Fresno, CA	$103,120	$71,530	$118,680	$100,940
12	Bellingham, WA	$102,490	$72,700	$117,160	$99,180
13	Sacramento, CA	$101,820	$74,340	$115,360	$95,450
14	Seattle, WA	$101,680	$69,150	$117,700	$91,490
15	Santa Maria, CA	$101,500	$74,140	$114,970	$93,290
16	Vallejo, CA	$100,500	$72,360	$114,360	$92,640
17	Hanford, CA	$100,480	$71,760	$114,630	$98,890
18	Merced, CA	$100,380	$72,090	$114,310	$102,140
19	Kennewick, WA	$100,310	$77,050	$111,770	$100,230
20	New York, NY-NJ	$100,020	$67,720	$115,930	$88,860
21	Riverside, CA	$99,640	$66,190	$116,110	$93,610
22	Salinas, CA	$99,410	$70,510	$113,640	$91,170
23	Kingston, NY	$99,220	$70,430	$113,400	$98,520
24	Chico, CA	$98,330	$71,530	$111,530	$97,170
25	Olympia, WA	$98,210	$71,100	$111,560	$94,730
26	Chicago, IL-IN	$97,150	$63,260	$113,840	$93,780
27	Stockton, CA	$97,040	$68,630	$111,020	$92,340
28	El Centro, CA	$96,750	$69,550	$110,140	$101,660
29	Visalia, CA	$96,750	$70,530	$109,660	$96,920
30	Yuba City, CA	$96,450	$70,230	$109,370	$92,530
31	San Luis Obispo, CA	$95,490	$67,690	$109,190	$87,930
32	Bakersfield, CA	$94,540	$70,560	$106,350	$93,710
33	Walla Walla, WA	$94,490	$75,910	$103,640	$95,910
34	Santa Cruz, CA	$94,180	$68,040	$107,060	$85,700
35	Barnstable Town, MA	$93,700	$70,290	$105,220	$95,270
36	Longview, WA	$93,690	$73,230	$103,770	$96,050
37	Boston, MA-NH	$92,430	$66,940	$104,990	$85,370
38	Yakima, WA	$92,200	$68,220	$104,010	$96,500
39	Spokane, WA	$91,860	$65,500	$104,840	$91,540
40	Wenatchee, WA	$90,530	$67,930	$101,660	$87,170
41	Kiryas Joel, NY	$90,370	$58,760	$105,930	$82,590
42	Boulder, CO	$88,940	$65,600	$100,430	$84,540
43	Bridgeport, CT	$88,640	$58,830	$103,330	$82,950
44	Norwich, CT	$86,130	$64,120	$96,970	$85,750
45	Portland, OR-WA	$86,120	$60,700	$98,640	$81,690
46	Columbus, OH	$85,780	$59,020	$98,960	$89,850
47	Atlantic City, NJ	$85,370	$65,270	$95,260	$86,360
48	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$85,250	$55,280	$100,000	$81,330
49	Worcester, MA	$85,250	$63,970	$95,730	$83,150
50	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$84,940	$58,570	$97,930	$78,010
51	Anchorage, AK	$84,690	$70,480	$91,690	$80,340
52	Fairbanks, AK	$84,570	$66,100	$93,670	$81,940
53	Waterbury, CT	$83,830	$58,710	$96,200	$84,020
54	Providence, RI-MA	$83,770	$60,650	$95,160	$82,310
55	Hartford, CT	$83,660	$57,130	$96,730	$81,420
56	Trenton, NJ	$83,650	$64,970	$92,840	$81,070
57	Albany, NY	$82,930	$57,990	$95,210	$83,290
58	Bend, OR	$82,930	$58,850	$94,800	$80,040
59	New Haven, CT	$82,710	$57,700	$95,030	$79,100
60	Buffalo, NY	$82,020	$52,850	$96,380	$85,580
61	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$81,030	$58,030	$92,360	$79,010
62	Glens Falls, NY	$80,450	$56,570	$92,220	$84,800
63	Akron, OH	$80,340	$53,430	$93,600	$86,040
64	Cleveland, OH	$79,810	$53,810	$92,620	$84,970
65	Allentown, PA-NJ	$79,770	$58,850	$90,070	$79,800
66	Grants Pass, OR	$79,770	$59,530	$89,730	$81,600
67	Lexington Park, MD	$79,730	$56,740	$91,060	$79,130
68	Pittsburgh, PA	$79,730	$55,610	$91,620	$84,220
69	Vineland, NJ	$79,660	$62,550	$88,090	$83,010
70	Baltimore, MD	$79,240	$58,550	$89,430	$75,840
71	Springfield, MA	$79,100	$60,910	$88,050	$82,340
72	York, PA	$78,970	$55,600	$90,480	$82,260
73	Denver, CO	$78,560	$56,050	$89,650	$74,270
74	Lancaster, PA	$78,430	$57,150	$88,920	$79,820
75	Burlington, VT	$78,420	$55,970	$89,480	$77,680
76	Utica, NY	$78,420	$56,830	$89,060	$84,620
77	Pittsfield, MA	$78,340	$55,850	$89,420	$82,370
78	Salt Lake City, UT	$78,250	$58,710	$87,870	$77,580
79	Lewiston, ID-WA	$77,940	$54,310	$89,580	$85,500
80	Kahului, HI	$77,920	$58,780	$87,350	$71,230
81	Dayton, OH	$77,800	$53,300	$89,870	$83,930
82	Syracuse, NY	$77,700	$62,560	$85,150	$81,160
83	Eugene, OR	$77,480	$54,980	$88,560	$76,280
84	Rochester, MN	$77,240	$52,600	$89,380	$85,050
85	Canton, OH	$77,140	$51,920	$89,560	$86,280
86	Warner Robins, GA	$77,130	$51,960	$89,520	$82,240
87	Ithaca, NY	$76,940	$58,460	$86,040	$74,470
88	Amherst Town, MA	$76,720	$57,890	$86,000	$76,530
89	Rockford, IL	$76,670	$53,510	$88,070	$83,200
90	Lebanon, PA	$76,510	$59,120	$85,080	$82,080
91	Toledo, OH	$76,200	$50,270	$88,980	$83,320
92	Salem, OR	$76,120	$54,480	$86,770	$73,440
93	Sandusky, OH	$75,880	$52,440	$87,420	$84,990
94	Reading, PA	$75,690	$55,770	$85,500	$77,980
95	Gettysburg, PA	$75,590	$58,480	$84,010	$79,250
96	Bloomington, IL	$75,170	$51,430	$86,860	$80,360
97	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$74,870	$56,010	$84,160	$76,440
98	Medford, OR	$74,500	$53,630	$84,770	$73,450
99	Chambersburg, PA	$74,170	$56,040	$83,100	$78,370
100	Detroit, MI	$74,170	$52,500	$84,840	$73,950
101	Logan, UT-ID	$74,140	$54,990	$83,570	$77,290
102	Santa Fe, NM	$74,060	$59,090	$81,440	$74,980
103	State College, PA	$74,000	$56,060	$82,840	$76,480
104	Springfield, IL	$73,900	$52,400	$84,490	$79,680
105	Atlanta, GA	$73,690	$55,490	$82,660	$73,650
106	Binghamton, NY	$73,480	$56,010	$82,090	$79,130
107	Fort Collins, CO	$73,460	$58,380	$80,890	$72,640
108	Corvallis, OR	$73,140	$51,640	$83,730	$70,320
109	Lima, OH	$72,990	$49,980	$84,330	$81,400
110	Shreveport, LA	$72,950	$48,170	$85,150	$86,060
111	Salisbury, MD	$72,840	$53,450	$82,400	$76,180
112	Scranton, PA	$72,740	$52,820	$82,560	$77,750
113	Urban Honolulu, HI	$72,700	$54,700	$81,570	$65,520
114	Duluth, MN-WI	$72,670	$51,810	$82,950	$81,870
115	Ogden, UT	$72,660	$53,660	$82,020	$72,410
116	St. Cloud, MN	$72,460	$53,890	$81,600	$82,690
117	Farmington, NM	$72,430	$58,510	$79,290	$82,580
118	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$72,370	$50,630	$83,080	$75,880
119	Mankato, MN	$72,080	$51,670	$82,140	$79,250
120	Staunton, VA	$71,920	$53,670	$80,910	$78,920
121	Flint, MI	$71,740	$51,420	$81,750	$77,110
122	Albuquerque, NM	$71,660	$59,140	$77,830	$75,000
123	Provo, UT	$71,480	$52,910	$80,630	$72,770
124	Decatur, IL	$71,440	$48,780	$82,600	$80,790
125	Milwaukee, WI	$71,380	$49,980	$81,920	$73,640
126	Harrisonburg, VA	$71,310	$55,010	$79,340	$75,150
127	Youngstown, OH	$71,200	$48,830	$82,220	$81,470
128	Harrisburg, PA	$71,190	$55,480	$78,930	$72,160
129	Albany, OR	$71,140	$51,710	$80,720	$69,680
130	Rochester, NY	$71,050	$54,330	$79,290	$73,220
131	Reno, NV	$70,840	$55,190	$78,550	$70,130
132	Savannah, GA	$70,740	$54,420	$78,770	$74,300
133	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$70,730	$51,660	$80,120	$75,990
134	Portland, ME	$70,630	$52,090	$79,760	$69,340
135	Manchester, NH	$70,590	$52,560	$79,470	$66,810
136	Elkhart, IN	$70,550	$51,550	$79,900	$78,110
137	Janesville, WI	$70,500	$52,760	$79,240	$75,240
138	Indianapolis, IN	$70,430	$52,970	$79,030	$73,600
139	Midland, MI	$70,360	$49,280	$80,740	$76,540
140	Charleston, SC	$70,340	$52,580	$79,080	$69,670
141	Watertown, NY	$70,310	$53,430	$78,630	$80,180
142	Grand Rapids, MI	$70,100	$49,200	$80,390	$73,370
143	Ann Arbor, MI	$70,090	$51,190	$79,390	$69,480
144	Mansfield, OH	$70,080	$46,850	$81,520	$78,850
145	Columbus, GA-AL	$69,960	$50,280	$79,650	$78,350
146	Lafayette, IN	$69,940	$53,020	$78,280	$74,860
147	Midland, TX	$69,790	$54,340	$77,400	$72,860
148	Odessa, TX	$69,760	$61,290	$73,940	$74,290
149	St. George, UT	$69,470	$53,350	$77,420	$71,380
150	Billings, MT	$69,440	$46,180	$80,900	$74,250
151	Dover, DE	$69,440	$54,760	$76,670	$71,220
152	Traverse City, MI	$69,340	$50,540	$78,610	$74,260
153	Las Cruces, NM	$69,300	$56,750	$75,470	$76,820
154	Saginaw, MI	$69,280	$48,820	$79,350	$76,220
155	Kalamazoo, MI	$69,130	$50,140	$78,480	$72,890
156	Springfield, OH	$69,020	$47,990	$79,370	$76,280
157	Lansing, MI	$69,010	$49,700	$78,520	$72,650
158	Dallas, TX	$68,930	$58,990	$73,830	$66,860
159	Jackson, MI	$68,920	$48,870	$78,800	$75,090
160	Michigan City, IN	$68,910	$48,780	$78,820	$75,160
161	Jacksonville, FL	$68,750	$53,360	$76,320	$69,110
162	Lincoln, NE	$68,740	$59,140	$73,470	$75,060
163	Bismarck, ND	$68,700	$57,900	$74,020	$75,470
164	Elmira, NY	$68,680	$52,390	$76,710	$72,760
165	Monroe, MI	$68,680	$48,290	$78,720	$73,460
166	Dalton, GA	$68,540	$50,680	$77,330	$76,290
167	St. Louis, MO-IL	$68,400	$48,990	$77,960	$71,930
168	Pueblo, CO	$68,360	$51,870	$76,480	$74,500
169	Greeley, CO	$68,350	$53,840	$75,500	$68,230
170	Davenport, IA-IL	$68,160	$48,910	$77,640	$76,520
171	Las Vegas, NV	$67,870	$51,980	$75,700	$67,720
172	Niles, MI	$67,830	$48,670	$77,270	$73,430
173	Houston, TX	$67,740	$56,280	$73,380	$68,680
174	Phoenix, AZ	$67,590	$48,390	$77,040	$65,420
175	Athens, GA	$67,580	$50,180	$76,160	$72,400
176	Kenosha, WI	$67,490	$50,450	$75,880	$66,740
177	Muskegon, MI	$67,480	$50,710	$75,730	$72,940
178	Augusta, GA-SC	$67,470	$50,480	$75,840	$73,410
179	Madison, WI	$67,410	$53,250	$74,390	$69,290
180	South Bend, IN-MI	$67,360	$48,610	$76,600	$72,540
181	Winchester, VA-WV	$67,230	$53,950	$73,780	$69,700
182	Hilton Head Island, SC	$67,180	$50,500	$75,390	$68,540
183	Erie, PA	$67,160	$50,370	$75,430	$73,840
184	Baton Rouge, LA	$67,090	$50,110	$75,450	$73,900
185	Huntsville, AL	$67,000	$54,390	$73,210	$71,990
186	Lexington, KY	$67,000	$51,180	$74,790	$72,130
187	Twin Falls, ID	$66,880	$49,770	$75,310	$72,610
188	Johnstown, PA	$66,820	$47,650	$76,250	$77,760
189	Greenville, SC	$66,810	$48,930	$75,620	$71,640
190	Rome, GA	$66,680	$47,930	$75,910	$73,960
191	Fort Wayne, IN	$66,650	$50,950	$74,380	$72,000
192	Richmond, VA	$66,610	$51,870	$73,860	$68,070
193	Bozeman, MT	$66,510	$46,180	$76,530	$64,880
194	Killeen, TX	$66,510	$55,670	$71,860	$72,980
195	Gainesville, GA	$66,420	$46,000	$76,480	$68,640
196	Racine, WI	$66,400	$53,710	$72,640	$69,190
197	Nashville, TN	$66,390	$52,430	$73,270	$68,910
198	Auburn, AL	$66,140	$53,940	$72,150	$75,220
199	Roanoke, VA	$66,130	$47,650	$75,220	$70,640
200	Battle Creek, MI	$66,080	$48,790	$74,600	$72,980
201	North Port, FL	$66,030	$50,480	$73,690	$64,470
202	Cedar Rapids, IA	$65,810	$50,440	$73,380	$73,970
203	Iowa City, IA	$65,750	$48,220	$74,380	$71,850
204	Corpus Christi, TX	$65,700	$57,170	$69,900	$70,900
205	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$65,650	$53,200	$71,780	$69,710
206	Ames, IA	$65,610	$50,760	$72,930	$73,860
207	Omaha, NE-IA	$65,540	$50,650	$72,870	$71,310
208	Oshkosh, WI	$65,540	$54,230	$71,110	$70,530
209	McAllen, TX	$65,490	$56,980	$69,690	$76,240
210	Boise City, ID	$65,480	$48,430	$73,870	$66,550
211	Charlottesville, VA	$65,440	$50,450	$72,830	$66,000
212	Cheyenne, WY	$65,360	$56,930	$69,520	$67,740
213	Myrtle Beach, SC	$65,360	$52,320	$71,780	$69,800
214	Idaho Falls, ID	$65,300	$49,800	$72,940	$69,160
215	Decatur, AL	$65,260	$54,490	$70,570	$74,830
216	La Crosse, WI-MN	$65,220	$51,330	$72,060	$71,070
217	Cleveland, TN	$65,190	$55,600	$69,910	$74,010
218	Naples, FL	$65,100	$54,490	$70,320	$63,080
219	Green Bay, WI	$65,000	$52,310	$71,260	$69,830
220	Wausau, WI	$64,990	$51,370	$71,700	$70,140
221	Grand Island, NE	$64,980	$49,310	$72,690	$74,990
222	Peoria, IL	$64,910	$48,370	$73,060	$71,150
223	Macon, GA	$64,860	$46,560	$73,870	$73,260
224	Muncie, IN	$64,780	$50,590	$71,760	$73,490
225	Fond du Lac, WI	$64,710	$51,090	$71,410	$70,610
226	San Antonio, TX	$64,640	$54,950	$69,410	$68,250
227	Bay City, MI	$64,590	$45,390	$74,040	$70,270
228	Altoona, PA	$64,470	$50,690	$71,260	$72,030
229	Minot, ND	$64,460	$49,360	$71,890	$74,070
230	Des Moines, IA	$64,410	$49,200	$71,910	$70,240
231	Laredo, TX	$64,410	$55,210	$68,940	$74,070
232	Blacksburg, VA	$64,350	$46,450	$73,160	$69,410
233	Appleton, WI	$64,320	$51,180	$70,790	$69,600
234	Austin, TX	$64,230	$55,680	$68,450	$65,500
235	Brownsville, TX	$64,230	$56,490	$68,050	$74,710
236	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$64,210	$48,900	$71,760	$74,090
237	Lewiston, ME	$64,180	$47,270	$72,500	$67,750
238	Sherman, TX	$64,140	$55,640	$68,320	$68,400
239	Fayetteville, AR	$64,110	$54,570	$68,810	$70,180
240	Valdosta, GA	$64,050	$40,570	$75,610	$72,560
241	El Paso, TX	$64,030	$54,940	$68,510	$71,210
242	Champaign, IL	$64,010	$45,820	$72,970	$69,050
243	Evansville, IN	$63,870	$46,200	$72,580	$69,780
244	Deltona, FL	$63,770	$48,000	$71,550	$64,180
245	Birmingham, AL	$63,730	$51,610	$69,710	$69,540
246	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$63,500	$47,950	$71,170	$69,430
247	Daphne, AL	$63,490	$52,390	$68,950	$67,050
248	Fargo, ND-MN	$63,360	$46,110	$71,850	$69,730
249	Owensboro, KY	$63,300	$48,610	$70,530	$71,440
250	Sheboygan, WI	$63,260	$51,920	$68,850	$67,290
251	Terre Haute, IN	$63,220	$47,720	$70,860	$72,010
252	Colorado Springs, CO	$63,190	$48,280	$70,540	$62,750
253	Spartanburg, SC	$63,160	$47,100	$71,070	$69,370
254	Knoxville, TN	$62,910	$50,150	$69,190	$67,960
255	Grand Junction, CO	$62,860	$49,530	$69,430	$65,840
256	Kansas City, MO-KS	$62,830	$48,930	$69,680	$67,890
257	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$62,790	$49,540	$69,320	$73,110
258	Morristown, TN	$62,680	$50,250	$68,800	$72,580
259	Columbia, SC	$62,620	$49,130	$69,270	$66,860
260	Lynchburg, VA	$62,520	$49,680	$68,850	$69,960
261	Florence, AL	$62,480	$50,990	$68,140	$73,660
262	Bloomington, IN	$62,440	$46,180	$70,440	$65,670
263	Elizabethtown, KY	$62,420	$49,680	$68,690	$68,920
264	Missoula, MT	$62,310	$42,060	$72,280	$64,610
265	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$62,280	$49,430	$68,610	$67,560
266	Miami, FL	$62,190	$50,710	$67,850	$54,480
267	Dothan, AL	$62,120	$50,700	$67,740	$74,100
268	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$62,120	$48,970	$68,600	$70,250
269	Tampa, FL	$62,070	$50,620	$67,710	$61,520
270	Anniston, AL	$62,050	$49,540	$68,210	$72,190
271	Waco, TX	$62,000	$51,730	$67,060	$66,990
272	Beaumont, TX	$61,990	$50,220	$67,790	$68,840
273	Eau Claire, WI	$61,970	$48,910	$68,400	$66,780
274	Longview, TX	$61,870	$50,190	$67,620	$69,140
275	Slidell, LA	$61,750	$55,440	$64,860	$66,590
276	Weirton, WV-OH	$61,730	$47,460	$68,760	$69,340
277	New Orleans, LA	$61,660	$49,810	$67,490	$66,590
278	Amarillo, TX	$61,570	$52,250	$66,160	$67,060
279	Wichita, KS	$61,480	$50,760	$66,760	$69,120
280	Orlando, FL	$61,450	$51,820	$66,190	$60,590
281	Sierra Vista, AZ	$61,390	$41,870	$71,000	$68,790
282	Waterloo, IA	$61,260	$46,810	$68,380	$70,370
283	Wichita Falls, TX	$61,230	$48,750	$67,370	$68,400
284	Kokomo, IN	$61,200	$48,150	$67,630	$68,270
285	Tuscaloosa, AL	$61,200	$48,190	$67,610	$69,770
286	Bowling Green, KY	$61,010	$49,120	$66,880	$67,650
287	Great Falls, MT	$61,000	$42,480	$70,130	$62,990
288	Hot Springs, AR	$60,950	$50,410	$66,140	$71,100
289	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$60,950	$46,980	$67,830	$70,500
290	Clarksville, TN-KY	$60,940	$45,790	$68,410	$67,010
291	Dubuque, IA	$60,930	$47,250	$67,660	$69,770
292	Wheeling, WV-OH	$60,890	$48,040	$67,220	$68,940
293	Bangor, ME	$60,810	$43,620	$69,280	$63,010
294	Little Rock, AR	$60,790	$49,340	$66,420	$68,030
295	Florence, SC	$60,780	$45,650	$68,220	$70,040
296	Crestview, FL	$60,650	$49,200	$66,300	$62,510
297	Kingsport, TN-VA	$60,600	$48,680	$66,460	$70,100
298	Mobile, AL	$60,530	$47,200	$67,090	$68,710
299	Sumter, SC	$60,500	$44,860	$68,200	$68,730
300	Tyler, TX	$60,320	$50,370	$65,220	$65,450
301	Paducah, KY-IL	$60,300	$47,400	$66,650	$70,050
302	Springfield, MO	$60,070	$45,250	$67,370	$67,810
303	Lawrence, KS	$60,050	$45,510	$67,210	$66,540
304	Montgomery, AL	$60,030	$44,960	$67,460	$66,940
305	Charlotte, NC-SC	$59,940	$46,680	$66,470	$61,570
306	College Station, TX	$59,860	$50,960	$64,240	$65,820
307	Cape Coral, FL	$59,550	$51,730	$63,410	$58,180
308	Jackson, TN	$59,510	$47,490	$65,430	$69,580
309	Gadsden, AL	$59,370	$48,530	$64,700	$69,310
310	Houma, LA	$59,230	$52,560	$62,520	$69,600
311	Ocala, FL	$59,220	$47,770	$64,860	$62,180
312	Oklahoma City, OK	$59,100	$46,030	$65,530	$65,370
313	Gainesville, FL	$58,920	$47,300	$64,640	$60,910
314	Jonesboro, AR	$58,880	$48,900	$63,800	$68,560
315	Lubbock, TX	$58,790	$46,460	$64,860	$64,380
316	San Angelo, TX	$58,520	$45,340	$65,010	$63,300
317	Raleigh, NC	$58,330	$46,750	$64,020	$59,430
318	Helena, MT	$58,190	$43,050	$65,650	$60,820
319	Texarkana, TX-AR	$58,140	$47,910	$63,170	$69,200
320	Flagstaff, AZ	$58,080	$49,040	$62,530	$57,890
321	Abilene, TX	$58,060	$46,750	$63,630	$64,250
322	Prescott Valley, AZ	$57,860	$45,010	$64,190	$58,890
323	Columbia, MO	$57,820	$43,850	$64,700	$64,650
324	Palm Bay, FL	$57,500	$50,380	$61,000	$57,500
325	Pensacola, FL	$57,370	$49,140	$61,420	$58,710
326	Asheville, NC	$57,360	$45,710	$63,100	$59,440
327	Topeka, KS	$57,330	$48,260	$61,800	$64,550
328	Johnson City, TN	$57,310	$48,690	$61,560	$65,180
329	Monroe, LA	$56,960	$47,250	$61,740	$68,140
330	Ponce, PR	$56,730	$45,040	$62,490	N/A
331	Wilmington, NC	$56,660	$44,560	$62,620	$58,760
332	Manhattan, KS	$56,640	$47,120	$61,340	$62,820
333	Sebring, FL	$56,600	$46,510	$61,570	$61,210
334	Arecibo, PR	$56,570	$43,730	$62,900	N/A
335	Kankakee, IL	$56,440	$39,590	$64,740	$58,550
336	Gulfport, MS	$56,290	$48,380	$60,180	$62,540
337	Jefferson City, MO	$56,260	$42,910	$62,830	$63,950
338	Durham, NC	$56,050	$43,380	$62,290	$57,440
339	Rapid City, SD	$56,040	$45,840	$61,070	$62,850
340	Guayama, PR	$56,000	$46,490	$60,690	N/A
341	Alexandria, LA	$55,880	$48,110	$59,700	$65,210
342	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$55,840	$41,830	$62,750	$64,640
343	Port St. Lucie, FL	$55,690	$49,200	$58,880	$55,560
344	Victoria, TX	$55,560	$44,670	$60,920	$61,840
345	Greensboro, NC	$55,520	$44,690	$60,860	$59,790
346	Yuma, AZ	$55,470	$46,940	$59,670	$59,830
347	Winston, NC	$55,400	$44,970	$60,540	$60,190
348	Beckley, WV	$55,330	$49,020	$58,440	$62,610
349	Pinehurst, NC	$55,210	$43,640	$60,910	$62,500
350	Lake Charles, LA	$55,170	$47,940	$58,730	$64,260
351	Charleston, WV	$55,110	$48,720	$58,260	$62,120
352	Lawton, OK	$55,110	$45,140	$60,030	$64,130
353	Aguadilla, PR	$55,050	$41,680	$61,640	N/A
354	Tallahassee, FL	$55,000	$45,370	$59,750	$58,560
355	Hammond, LA	$54,930	$47,520	$58,590	$65,040
356	Tucson, AZ	$54,930	$44,020	$60,300	$56,690
357	Lakeland, FL	$54,920	$49,250	$57,720	$56,540
358	San Juan, PR	$54,860	$42,580	$60,910	N/A
359	Joplin, MO-KS	$54,240	$43,550	$59,510	$63,280
360	Hickory, NC	$54,210	$44,420	$59,030	$61,260
361	Panama City, FL	$53,890	$49,610	$55,990	$55,390
362	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$53,830	$46,360	$57,510	$59,390
363	Jackson, MS	$53,670	$43,280	$58,790	$60,270
364	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$53,580	$40,190	$60,180	$62,250
365	Greenville, NC	$53,560	$43,360	$58,580	$60,590
366	Tulsa, OK	$53,410	$45,320	$57,400	$59,870
367	Hattiesburg, MS	$53,130	$45,240	$57,010	$60,630
368	Burlington, NC	$52,770	$41,960	$58,100	$56,620
369	Mayaguez, PR	$51,770	$34,630	$60,210	N/A
370	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$51,750	$43,470	$55,830	$55,000
371	Lafayette, LA	$51,280	$45,540	$54,100	$58,800
372	Goldsboro, NC	$50,970	$42,640	$55,070	$57,620
373	Fayetteville, NC	$50,910	$40,650	$55,970	$55,350
374	Enid, OK	$50,490	$39,990	$55,660	$59,920
375	Rocky Mount, NC	$49,940	$43,110	$53,310	$56,740

More on high school teachers

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

High School Teacher salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays high school teachers the most?

San Francisco, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $119,470 a year, followed by San Diego, CA ($116,110), San Jose, CA ($111,240), Napa, CA ($107,690). The national mean is $76,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do high school teachers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Mount Vernon, WA ($105,070 at national prices, $107,640 nominal), San Diego, CA ($103,770 at national prices, $116,110 nominal), San Francisco, CA ($103,340 at national prices, $119,470 nominal).

How much do high school teachers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $100,020; Los Angeles, CA: $106,820; Chicago, IL-IN: $97,150; Dallas, TX: $68,930; Houston, TX: $67,740 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do high school teachers earn the least?

Of the 375 metro areas with their own estimate, Rocky Mount, NC has the lowest mean wage, $49,940. At local prices that is worth $56,740.